SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College women's hockey team fell 3-1 to #14/#15 Yale University Friday evening at Messa Rink.

Senior Maddie Suitor scored her fifth goal of the season and the only goal of the night for the Garnet Chargers, with assists from first-year Karianne Engelbert and junior Stephanie Bourque.

The Bulldogs pressed strong offense early in the first tallying five shots on goal to Union's one in the first seven minutes of action. 

Yale's first goal of the evening came at 13:05 in the first period. A wrist shot from Gracie Gilkyson from the top of the circles, found its way through traffic, into the right side of the net.

Each team had nearly even chances for the remainder of the period with Yale holding a seven to five edge in shots, but neither found the back of the net.

The Bulldogs netted their second goal of the evening just 52 seconds into the second frame.

Carina DiAntonio, through stick-on-stick contact, still managed to get the puck to Anna Bargman, who skated in from the left circle and fired a shot into the right corner of the net.

Union found its offensive spark over the next fifteen minutes of play. Senior goaltender Sophie Matsoukas made a remarkable breakaway save to keep the Garnet Chargers in the game, while Union outshot the Bulldogs 6-5 during the stretch.

A delay of game penalty on Yale at 15:07 in the second period set up Suitor's power play goal. Bourque passed the puck to Engelbert at the right circle. With time and space, Engelbert patiently waited for the right moment to fire a shot on goal, where Suitor, wide open at the top of the crease, deflected the puck into the left side of the net.

In the next three minutes of play, the Bulldogs outshot the Garnet Chargers 4-1, but neither team was able to convert on their chances. Union then ended the period on the power play, which they carried into the final frame of action.

In the third period, Union continued their power play until 22 seconds later the Garnet Chargers were called on a penalty, creating a 4 on 4 situation. Once Yale's penalty expired, Union successfully killed off the remaining time of their penalty.

Over the next four minutes of play, both teams recorded two shots on goal, but the Bulldogs were able to capitalize and scored the game-winning goal at 6:29 of the final frame.

Emma McGowan collected the loose puck after it deflected off traffic from an initial shot taken from the top of the left circle and fired it into the back of the net.

Over the next 12 minutes of play, the Garnet Chargers showcased strong defensive efforts, with Matsoukas making seven saves, including another incredible stop, successfully killing off another penalty, and blocking two shots.

Matsoukas was pulled two and a half minutes remaining to put an extra attacker out. The senior goaltender returned to goal briefly with 17 seconds remaining before being pulled again. Despite the extra attacker efforts, Union was unable to score. Matsoukas finished the game with 32 saves.

Women's hockey is back in action and wraps up the first half of the season tomorrow at 3:00 pm versus the Brown University Bears.